Local golfer wins big tournament
The golfer was ecstatic after winning at the Sishen course in Kathu, Northern Cape, on September 22.
Glendower Golf Club’s Yurav Premlall celebrated his maiden Sunshine Tour win at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Sishen tournament.
The golfer was ecstatic after winning at the Sishen course in Kathu, Northern Cape, on September 22.
Premlall has been in tremendous form this season, finishing second twice, racking up two third-place finishes and three other top-15 placings.
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When Premlall stood on the first tee in the final round, he was four strokes behind leader Deon Germishuys. It rapidly became five behind when he bogeyed the par-four first hole.
Soon, Premlall’s precision golf kicked in, and he did not drop another shot while collecting birdies on the second, fifth, eighth, ninth, 11th, 14th and 15th holes.
His six-under-par 66 saw him finish 11-under-par, good enough for a one-stroke victory over Martin Vorster (70 for 10-under-par).
“I’m over the moon,” Premlall said afterwards.
“The win felt like a long time coming, but you can never be sure you will win in this game. To get over the line for the first time is very special.”
Premlall said it took hard work to get this far.
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“My frame of mind on the day was no different to how it’s been before this season. Sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don’t.”
Premlall said the start wasn’t ideal, but he remained patient.
“I hit a couple of shots close to the hole. I holed a few good putts but missed a few as well. I guess 26 putts and the result speak differently, though.
“But my iron play was phenomenal. Every time I was in position, even when I had to get up and down, the ball was in the right spot. I was very tidy around the green,” Premlall said.
Premlall has overtaken Daniel van Tonder at the top of the order of merit delivered by The Courier Guy.
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He said staying at the top of the local circuit would be his primary focus for the rest of the year.
“At the start of the year, I set myself the goal of really contending in the order of merit and trying to get into the top three by the end of the lucrative Tour Championship delivered by The Courier Guy.
“I don’t want to have too many eggs in different baskets, and you’ll see me a lot more on our tour for the remainder of the year. That’s my focus,” Premlall said.